Retaining apparatus

ABSTRACT

A retaining apparatus is formed with a retaining arm and a retainer clip. The retaining arm is formed by combining two joint arms. After combining the two joint arms, those joint arms still have a specific action space. The retainer clip is combined with the retaining arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The invention relates a retaining apparatus and, in particular,to a retaining apparatus that can be readily mounted or separatedwithout using additional tools.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] In a computer, the central processing unit (CPU) usuallygenerates the most heat. If the heat is not immediately removed, the CPUmay be easily burned. Therefore, the CPU surface is usually mounted aheat sink for rapidly removing the heat it generates.

[0005] However, if the heat sink is not tightly mounted on the CPU, theheat ventilation may not be effective enough. Therefore, the heat sinkis conventionally combined with the CPU via some retaining apparatus.

[0006] The retaining apparatus in the prior art has an elastic retainingarm and a retaining frame. Through the elastic force between theretaining arm and the retaining frame, the heat sink is tightly pressedagainst the CPU.

[0007] However, in the conventional retaining apparatus structure,additional retaining tools (such as the Phillips screw driver) and anappropriate force are required to combine or separate the retaining armand the retaining frame. In order to avoid the use of additional tools,a retaining apparatus is also designed in the prior art. Such retainingapparatuses have to be installed with an extra retaining structure witha specific structure. The combing and separating actions are completedthrough a series of complicated procedures. Therefore, not only do theyhave a higher manufacturing cost, it is also impossible to complete thecombining or separating action in a simple way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In view of the foregoing, the invention proposes a retainingapparatus that can be easily mounted or separated without usingadditional tools, shortening the manipulating time.

[0009] The invention also proposes a retaining apparatus that can bereadily mounted or separated through a simple action, shortening themanipulating time.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the invention provides aretaining apparatus comprised of a retaining arm and a retainer clip.The retaining arm is formed by combining two joint arms. After combiningthe two joint arms, those joint arms still have a specific action space.The retainer clip is combined with the retaining arm.

[0011] The disclosed retaining apparatus further contains a base, whichconnects to the retainer clip. An action mechanism exists between theretainer clip and the base.

[0012] Moreover, the disclosed retaining apparatus includes a retainingframe that matches with the retaining arm. The retainer clip combines orseparates the retaining arm and the retaining frame through theabove-mentioned action mechanism.

[0013] When a heat sink and a heat-generating component are held betweenthe retaining frame and the base, the action mechanism presses the heatsink tightly against the heat-generating component. Furthermore, theheat sink can be installed with a fan to accelerate heat dissipation.The base can have a combining part for the connection of the fan.

[0014] The disclosed retaining apparatus can simultaneously havemultiple retaining arms.

[0015] According to the disclosed retaining apparatus, the retaining armis formed by combining two joint arms. After combining the two jointarms, those joint arms still have a few action space. Therefore, theretaining size of the retaining arm can be readily adjusted. It is thuseasy to install the retaining arm on the retaining frame or a substrateby imposing only a small force.

[0016] Furthermore, one can rotate the retainer clip to readily combineor separate the retaining arm with the retaining frame or substrate.Therefore, the disclosed retaining apparatus does not require additionaltools or special techniques in order to be mounted or separated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent by reference to the following description andaccompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, andthus are not limitative of the invention, and wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the retaining apparatus in apreferred embodiment of the invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of part of the retaining apparatus inFIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the retaining apparatus in FIG. 2;and

[0021]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an application of the retainingapparatus in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] The present invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.

[0023] With simultaneous reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the disclosedretaining apparatus 100 is comprised of a retaining arm 102 and aretainer clip 104. The retaining arm 102 is formed by combining separatejoint arms 102 a, 102 b. After combining the two joint arms 102 a, 102b, there is still some room for actions. The joint arm 102 a can bedivided into a connection part 110 a, an arm 112 a, and a retaining part114 a. Likewise, the joint arm 102 b can be divided into a connectionpart 110 b, an arm 112 b, and a retaining part 114 b. The connectionparts 110 a, 110 b match with each other so that the joint arms 102 a,102 b can be readily combined. The connection can be in an embeddingform or a joint form. The arms 112 a, 112 b are the main parts of thejoint arms 102 a, 102 b. Their forms are determined according to thestructure of the retained object or the purposes. For example, they canhave an L shape. The retaining parts 114 a, 114 b have the structurecorresponding to the retaining part of the retained object. For example,it can be in a hook form, an embedding form, a joint form, or a clippingform.

[0024] The retainer clip 104 can be divided into a retainer clip body116 and a positioning part 118. The number of the positioning parts 118is determined by the number of the retaining arms 102. The positioningpart 118 matches with the retaining arm 102. More specifically, thepositioning part 118 and the connection parts 110 a, 110 b of theretaining arm 102 are combined together. The connection between theretainer clip 104 and the retaining arm 102 is in such a way that theretainer clip 104 and the retaining arm 102 are still movable relativeto each other. Examples include the hooking means, the screw-mountingmeans, and the clipping means. On the other hand, the shape of thepositioning part 118 is designed for a rotation mechanism, such as an Lshape. The rotation mechanism refers to the mechanism that the retainerclip 104 can readily rise or descend along a specific track on the base106 by rotating the retainer clip 104.

[0025] The disclosed retaining apparatus 100 can also include a base106. The base 106 has positioning grooves 128 and positioning holes 124.The positioning grooves 128 fix the retaining arm 102 at a specificposition on the base 106. Each positioning groove 128 has a shapecorresponding to the retaining arm 102. The positioning holes 124 allowthe retainer clip 104 to be fixed on the base 106. The retainer clip 104can rise or fall along the positioning holes 124. Each positioning hole124 has a width slightly larger than the maximal width of a fixing bolt120 and has a specific track shape.

[0026] Moreover, the base 106 can be formed with connection parts 122,which are used to hold a heat-dissipating component such as a fan 204(see FIG. 3). This can enhance the heat dissipation from the retainerobject. The base can be formed with fixing parts 126 to tightly hold theretainer clip 124 on the base 106. In this case, the retaining arm 102is simultaneously fixed on the retaining frame 202 to be explainedlater.

[0027] With reference to FIG. 4, the invention also includes a retainingframe 202 in addition to the retaining apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 1and 2. The retaining frame 202 has connection parts 208 corresponding tothe retaining apparatus 100. Through the connection between theretaining frame and the retaining apparatus 100, all components(including heat-dissipating component and the heat-generating component)are tightly combined together. The shape of the connection part 208 isdetermined by that of the retaining parts 114 a, 114 b of the retainingarm 102.

[0028] Although we use two retaining arms in the embodiment to explainthe spirit of the invention, it is however not limited by the example.One can simply generalize the design to using a single retaining arm ormore than two retaining arms.

[0029] Here we use an embodiment to explain the connection among theretainer clip 104, the retaining arm 102, and the base 106. First, weform corresponding fixing holes 108 a, 108 b on the connection parts 110a, 110 b. Afterwards, the two connection parts 110 a, 110 b are combinedtogether. In the embodiment, the fixing holes 108 a, 108 b are on thesame axis.

[0030] The positioning parts 118 of the retainer clip 104 hold theconnection parts 110 a, 110 b. The fixing bolts 120 (the protrudingparts on the inner sides of the positioning parts 118) penetrate throughthe fixing holes 108 a, 108 b, connecting the retainer clip 104 and theretaining arm 102. The joint arms 102 a, 102 b of the retaining arm 102can rotate together or separately within a limited space with respect tothe fixing bolts 120.

[0031] Afterwards, the retainer clip 104 and the retaining arm 102 aredisposed on the base 106. The retaining arm 102 is embedded into thepositioning grooves 128 and the fixing bolts 120 are fixed into thepositioning holes 124, fixing the retainer clip 104 on the base 106. Theretainer clip 104 can rotate on the base 106 as mentioned before. In anexplicit embodiment, the positioning holes 124 are designed to have along stripe shape whose width corresponds to the maximal thickness ofthe fixing bolt 120. In this manner, the fixing bolts 120 can readilyslide along a specific track formed by the positioning holes 120 oncethey are inserted into the positioning holes 124. Moreover, the fixingbolts 120 will not depart from the positioning holes 124, thereby fixingthe retainer clip 104 on the base 106.

[0032] With simultaneous reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, we use a centralprocessing unit (CPU) as the heat-generating component to explain how touse the disclosed retaining apparatus 200. First, a heat-dissipatingcomponent 206 is disposed on the CPU (not shown). The heat-dissipatingcomponent 206 can be a heat sink, a heat pipe, or a fan. Theheat-dissipating component 206 and the CPU are placed on the retainingframe 202 (FIG. 3 shows that the CPU is held between theheat-dissipating component 206 and the retaining frame 202). Theretaining apparatus 100 is disposed on the heat-dissipating component206. Afterwards, the retainer clip 104 is rotates to be fixed on thefixing parts 126. At this moment, the retaining parts 114 a, 114 b ofthe retaining arm 102 are combined with the connection parts 208.Therefore, the heat-dissipating component 206 inside the retainingapparatus 200 is tightly connected to the CPU.

[0033] To increase the heat dissipation efficiency of theheat-dissipating component 206, another heat-dissipating component canbe installed on the retaining apparatus 200. For example, one caninstall a fan 204 on the retaining apparatus 200 or directly on theheat-dissipating component 206.

[0034] From the above descriptions of the disclosed retaining apparatusand how to use it, one sees that there is still some room for motionbetween the two joint arms as the retaining arm is comprised of twoseparate joint arms. Therefore, the retaining size of the retaining armcan be readily adjusted. One can easily install the retaining arm on theretaining frame or a substrate by imposing only a small force.

[0035] Furthermore, since the retaining arm can be easily installed onor separated from a retaining frame or a substrate by rotating theretainer clip, the invention does not require the use of additionaltools or skills. A simple action can quickly mount or dismount thedisclosed retaining apparatus.

[0036] While the invention has been described by way of example and interms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary,it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangementsas would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scopeof the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation soas to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

1. A retaining apparatus, comprising: a retaining arm, which is obtained by combining a first joint arm and a second joint arm with a specific motion space in between; a retainer clip, which is combined with the retaining arm; and a base, which is combined with the retainer clip with an action mechanism existing between the retainer clip and the base to rotate the first joint arm and the second joint arm symmetrically.
 2. The retaining apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a retaining frame connected to the retaining arm.
 3. The retaining apparatus of claim 2, wherein the retainer clip controls the connection between the retaining frame and the retaining arm through the action mechanism.
 4. The retaining apparatus of claim 2, wherein the action mechanism tightly attaches a first heat-dissipating component to a heat-generating component when the first heat-dissipating component and the heat-generating component are held between the retaining frame and the base.
 5. The retaining apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first heat-dissipating component is connected with a second heat-dissipating component.
 6. The retaining apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base further includes a connection part for connecting to a second heat-dissipating component.
 7. The retaining apparatus of claim 1, wherein the action mechanism refers to the rotation of the retainer clip.
 8. A retaining apparatus, comprising: a first joint arm; a second joint arm, which is combined with the first joint arm to form a retaining arm with a specific motion space existing between the combined first joint arm and second joint arm; and a retainer clip, which is combined with the retaining arm with an action mechanism existing between the retainer clip and the retaining arm to rotate the first joint arm and the second joint arm symmetrically.
 9. The retaining apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a retaining frame connecting to the retaining arm.
 10. The retaining apparatus of claim 9, wherein the retainer clip controls the connection between the retaining frame and the retaining arm through the action mechanism.
 11. The retaining apparatus of claim 9, wherein the action mechanism tightly attaches a first heat-dissipating component to a heat-generating component when the first heat-dissipating component and the heat-generating component are held between the retaining frame and a base.
 12. The retaining apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first heat-dissipating component is connected with a second heat-dissipating component.
 13. A retaining apparatus, comprising: a plurality of retaining arms, each of which is obtained by combining a first joint arm and a second joint arm with a specific motion space existing in between; a retainer clip, which is combined with the plurality of retaining arms; and a base, which is combined with the retainer clip with an action mechanism existing in between to rotate the first joint arm and the second joint arm symmetrically.
 14. The retaining apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a retaining frame connecting to the retaining arm.
 15. The retaining apparatus of claim 14, wherein the retainer clip controls the connection between the retaining frame and the retaining arm through the action mechanism.
 16. The retaining apparatus of claim 13, wherein the action mechanism tightly attaches a first heat-dissipating component to a heat-generating component when the first heat-dissipating component and the heat-generating component are held between the retaining frame and the base.
 17. The retaining apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first heat-dissipating component is connected with a second heat-dissipating component.
 18. The retaining apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second heat-dissipating component is a fan.
 19. The retaining apparatus of claim 13, wherein the action mechanism refers to the rotation of the retainer clip.
 20. The retaining apparatus of claim 13, wherein the base further includes a connection part for connecting to a second heat-dissipating component. 